CONRATS!!!!

Big Congrats!!!

Congrats also! Karolina's got her interview on the 14th. I'll be heading over at the end of next month. Just sent all the rest of the documentation Karolina needed from me for her interview. We'll let you know what happens.

Anna asked about documents being sent back to her and they handed her the documents she was concerned with. I believe she also paid and additional 40 RPH to have the rest shipped back with her Visa.

I am leaving August 2nd to Kyiv and returning August 6th so "joemama" if you have last minute stuff you need sent let me know.
We also have the name/phone of the lady that we rented an apartment from a 3rd person. This is so that we could pay less in the future by leaving out the middle man. So if your looking you can PM me and I will get you that phone number and you can call. Anna stated it was a great place, we will most likely be in that same one during our Aug. 2 through 6th stay in Kyiv.
Good luck on your interview!
T

I just as all congratulate you bcartr

T, thanks for the offer about the last minute stuff and apartment referral. Yesterday, Karolina received the last of the documentation she needed from me for her interview. The company Karolina's mother works for has an apartment in Kiev they get free-of-charge. We stayed there in February. I'm glad you're going to be in Kiev during the summer months. This past winter was the coldest weather I'd ever experienced! My damn ears just about fell off. And I was wearing a cap over my ears too!

I was in Kherson in January and it was pretty darn nice weather....

Tania's here! We arrived at JFK July 17, immigration was overcrowded but noneventful. Since it's been about 100F in Kiev for days, she loves the Michigan weather.

We spent several days in Chicago with a friend of mine from Chicago and a friend of hers from Odessa. Tania and I also celebrated our coincident birthdays last Saturday.

More news later, but we must go now.

Tania offered to email or talk to anyone who wishes to learn about her experience.

More later, as well as timeline updates.

Rob and Tania

Congrats Rob. Welcome to the US Tania!

congratulate Rob and Tania

Congrats Rob and Tania, glad she made it safe to the US.
Did she get a work stamp on her visa upon arrival?
T.

T.,

There was never any discussion with USCIS or Dept. of State regarding work in this process for us. I don't think it's an issue. I recently read that an SS# is not immediately needed for work. However, Tania has a VERY independent personality, and does not like to be taken care of.

Tania is rather self conscious in general, and shy about her mediocre English skills. Getting her enrolled in structured English classes is a priority, work will follow in a few weeks to a few months.

Rob

Where did you read this?

I am happy to report that Anya called me early this morning to let me know she received her documents back from the Embassy today July 25th via Fedex. Her interview was July 16th so that is 8 business days from the time of her interview to documents in hand. (Passport/Visa).

Rob, the question on the work authorization is to help those that would like to work when then come to the US. Anya I believe is like Tanya when it comes to work. She wants to work however she feels she needs to study more English.
When we arrive on August 6th through JFK I still want her to ask for the Work Authorization stamp to see if she gets it or what is the process to report back here for those folks that are interested. If she gets it, I don't think she will put it to use her first 90 days here.
But my understanding for anyone in the US to work, they have to have a SS# due to the I-9 form they fill out when accepting a position. So the SS is needed however this does not give you Authorization to work unless you have a green card (after doing AOS) or she gets that stamp at JFK on her Visa/Passport which is only good for 90 days. Same time as K-1 Visa.
Regards,
T.

FYI, When we came through JFK in May, we did not have to ask for the stamp, it was simply provided....

I recall it was on the SSA's site in a section regarding how new immigrants apply for an SSN. There were a few FAQs listed, one was "Do I need a SSN to work?" The reply was not immediately.

Interesting...

Here is what I got from the FAQ's from SSA:

Without exception, legal aliens, resident and nonresident, must have a Social Security number to work in this country. As an employer, you are required to get each worker's name and Social Security number and to enter them on the employee's Form W-2. Your employees are required to show their Social Security cards, if available.

Now many employers will stop reading after paragraph 1.....

A SSN IS required; but if you look at the guides provided here, there is a notation on there from the Social Security Administration that a K1 visa recipient does not require the EAD stamp to beginn work once they have a SSN
However, since the K1 expires after 90 days, so does the implicit work authorization--she will then need to file for a formal EAD.

BTW--I can verify the SHORT interview from Kiev---they only asked Nataliya 1 question at her interview in March

I'll see if I can find what I referred to. Ocheen bizzy now.

I haven't had time to track the source of my comment about a K-1 beneficiary not needing an SSN to work. Moving, wedding plans, English lessons, health insurance, so on.

Monday, we went to the local social insecurity office to file Tania's app. The form is short and the procedure was very simple.

I asked the SSA interviewer about Tania working before her SSN# arrives. She told me it is legal for Tania to work since her visa was marked eligible to work at immigration a couple weeks ago. But the employer should withhold pay until he has an SSN from her.

It makes sense, but sounds like a sloppy way to run things, FWIW.

Rob and Tania

Well Anya and I finally made it to our new home in CA.
Going through customs for her was a hassle at JFK. It took over 2 hours even though the line was not that bad.
I, of course, went through in minutes so I went and gathered our luggage. It took Anya about 1 hour to get to the window to meet the Customs official.
That lady looked at Anya's paperwork for about 15 minutes then assigned her to a room for a "Secondary Passport Control". This is where it got tricky.
I also saw other K1 folks in the line, they all got sent to the Secondary Passport Control so I dont know if this was normal or not.
I asked if I could enter the room and they told me yes. Anya had no idea why she was there, so I stood up, left the room to go ask some questions and this is where the custom guy was very rude to me. Before I could ask a question, he told me it was either in or out, I cant be coming and going. So I chose out due to our luggage being alone out there. Nothing I could do for Anya in there anyway.
So a customs guy passes me about 30 minutes later (at this time I feel like I am the only one left in the in customs area) he said "how are you doing", being courteous and all. I told him, "you know, now I understand why foreigners hate America" He said "why"? I told him because they are the first ones that they meet when they get here, and they are very rude and scare them to death. He said not all and I told him it only takes one. I told him my story, then I asked him if I could ask him a question. My question was about the "work stamp", he stated that they give the stamp to all K1 holders however some agents due miss giving them. So just check your I-94 form, and it should be in the back, if not go back and see an agent and ask for the stamp. They will not deny it for you. I asked him if they do that at all airports and he stated he did not know.

Anya finally got out of secondary passport control, they never asked her anything, I can't tell you what they did, but the 4 K1 ladies all left at the same exact time. So I was able to get the ladies over to the right place to pick up there luggage. One lady was very worried as she was to meet her future husband outside the airport. I was assuming it was just outside passport control. Anyways, I told her to follow us.
We still had to go through customs for our luggage, but her is where my luck was with us. The guy I asked all the questions was working that area, so he took our declarations page and asked for Anya's passport, he showed me the stamp(which I looked at it earlier) and told me this is where it was. Then told me we were allowed to go. so nobody had to look at our luggage!
We got out of there at 4:08 pm our flight was scheduled to leave at 4:11 pm. Umm we were running. I will make this short, all the running was for nothing as our plane was 45 minutes late!
We made it to LAX at 10 pm, and did not leave until midnight as they lost one of Anya's bags, she was so upset, thinking she was not going to have some important items. After I reported the bag missing, I told Anya to wait for me and I went on a hunt. I checked all carousels (ours arrived at #4), I found Anya's bag at carousel #1. Yup, they made a mistake, go figure.
Anyways, it was a long trip, and we immediately went to bed when we got home.
Regards,
T

CONGRATS!!

Does not help you now but why did you not ask if Anya could accompany you through the USC line? I bet if you did they would have allowed.... They did us at least...

At JFK, secondary inspection seems to be the norm as they process so many people that in order to keep the lines moving they do not do much of anything at primary for intended immigrants....

I did not know I could ask to do that.
Hopefully folks reading this now, know that they should ask to accompany them.
I did not know about the secondary as well. Just seemed that 2 hours was a long time from start to finish.
So again, no issues with her paperwork or anything like that, just a timing issue with the custom agents and having to go through this secondary control.
T

That was VERY interesting. Just an FYI I just came back from 28 days over there in the Kyiv region, and we were at the Airport at the same time BCarter! I paid the extra $$ for the VIP service however (Terminal C), so I didn't see you at Terminal B.

Anyway, early last week in Kyiv, the news (Ukrainian Channel #1 I think) had a story about counterfeit US Visa's being found on passengers coming into the US. They had arrested a Ukrainian and a Turk (I believe) for selling them for prices up to US $20,000 Apparently is was news worthy over there, but I have not read or heard anything about it since arriving home. I would imagine for the future many Ukrainians with Visas will be checked out extensively. This would jive with no questions, they were probably just insuring the Visa was legit.

Congrats on your success! Lena and I are looking forward to completing this process and this thread has been great with all of the information on it.

Since we just received our NOA2, when is the best time for me to send her the rest of my docs (the I-134 etc), should I wait until the interview is at least scheduled? or can I get them out to her now? Any opinions?

I gave my financial documents (or at least 90% of them) including the I-134 almost 5 mos. before her interview. The balance went over almost 2 mos. prior. I think you could do it at anytime when you have them ready to go.....

A smart person would have brought over the I-134 and any other documentation that is not subject to change on there latest visit to his future wife and then could have simply have e-mailed a .pdf of anything else to finish up the package.

Well.....this smart ###... I mean person did just that. I just didn't know if they would accept the Bank Letter and Employer letter dated July 6th when we didn't get the approval for another month.

Also, do you think just my 2006 return with W-2 would be enough? She has that as well as 2004/2005 IRS Transcripts, but since my Ex is on those, I'd rather not give them even with my W-2's for those years.

Assemble two financial packages... A primary package with just the 2006 information & I-134 and then a second package of all the other stuff... Have her present only the primary package..... On the cover sheet of my primary package I noted that information pertaining to other years was available upon request...

BTW, the older info was not requested.....

What VIP service are you talking about?
While at the Kyiv airport, I had no issues with checking in or with Visas either. Nor Did Anya.
Yes we were at Terminal B in Kyiv.
My issues were in JFK going through the passport control for her first time coming into the US.

Ok maybe I understand you now. You basically were stating you were at the airport at the same time.
And that you were in terminal C versus B like me. What airline did you fly out of?

Something had to be up with Passport control as I overheard one of the guys mentioning the "Lack" of K1 Visas on this trip.
I took it as if they usually got more then the 4 or 5 that I saw, and that was it. I could not hear more then that, maybe they were talking about the previous issues as you mentioned above.
T

Exactly, I was in Terminal C. I knew you were flying out then from your previous posts, and was actually hoping I might see you. Anyway, my previous visits had been through the "Gauntlet" in Terminal B with the line cutting, and standing in line forever. FWAGUY recommended the VIP service and it was worth every bit of the $105 U.S. I spent. I will have Lena and her daughter go that route as well.

I flew out on KLM via Amsterdam to Detroit (POE) and onto Madison. I'll probably have Lena and daughter fly KLM to Amsterdam and then direct into O'Hare since it is the closest to home, and I can drive down to meet them. I burned up my vacation for 2007 already, otherwise I would love to fly with them.

We arrived early for our flight from Kyiv to JFK(NY). I was explaining to Anya all about flying, and why.
It worked great as we were pretty much first in line at the check in place etc.. I would then tell Anya, now just wait about 5 to 10 min. and sure enough BOOM the line was long. She called me a very clever man. LOL.
The line was long during boarding though. I waited a bit as I got online (Wifi and had to pay this time )
However, YES, I cut in line, Anya asked me why I did so, I told her I was in Ukraine, and I do as Ukrainians do!.
LOL She gave me a weird look.
I told her to turn her ticket down so that nobody would see it, we entered from the left, as if we were in business class, so nobody really took notice. LOL
Don't call me a cheater, I am not that type, but yes, I have seen it all over there, and it was time to take charge!
Bonus ME!

You are right about the line-cutting and doing as Ukrainians do. You've got to stand there parked right up against the person's arse in front of you. Or you'll end up at the back of the line pretty fast!

That line cutting always drove me nuts. I never raised hell over it like I would in the States for fear of ending up in a dark room and being beaten with a wet phone book.

One thing I always loved doing over there, is playing the "Who's the American?" game. You can always tell us Americans: Usually in tennis shoes, shirt not tucked into the pants, always 2 girls with 1 guy (more than likely from a romance tour), puts garbage in the trash can, etc.

May I please ask for more information on what the VIP Service is?

Many Thanks.

Google is your friend

http://www.airport-borispol.kiev.ua/vip/

Just an FYI... out of ODS the VIP is only $60 or $70

Sounds like our experience at JFK with immigration. It was an annoying process, but alltogether routine and uneventful.

How did Anya like Disney?

About the work stamp on the I-94, here's a new one:

Tania received her SSN number on an official SSN card last Monday. A stamp on it says: "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION." The authorization is the work stamp you are referring to, which Tania received.

Last Monday PM, I went to a FlagStar Bank in Ka'zoo Michigan to assist Tania to open her first bank account. The assistant manager of the branch said the SSN could not be used, because it said "VALID FOR WORK ONLY" and was not a true TIN/SSN.

LOL LOL!

Rob and Tania

She just loved Disneyland, we got there at 8 am and left at 10:30 pm. We got to go on alot of rides and visit many shows as well.
I was having just as much fun because my last couple of girlfriends never liked riding rides, like if it was beneath them?
Anyways she had a blast but I had caught a cold the night before so I was dead tired, she kept wanting to go home but I could not ruin it for her. I stuck it out, I was so sick I called in sick to work the next day. Anyways I am better now and because of our meet ups that I had been going to, she has a new Russian friend. About 24 years old and married as well. They have already seen each other a couple of times. They will both come to see me play soccer tomorrow and then go shopping for wedding invitations. (I will stay out of that one).

Anya constantly gets people to tell her how beautiful she is, I respond by telling them "What about me!"
Of course they look at me funny.
We will go for her SS this week, maybe Thur/Fri. So you never got the bank account open?
Did they need to see the SS? When ever they ask me I just blurt out the numbers, I hardly ever show them.
Maybe it is different now.
I know Tania has been corresponding with Anya via phone and emails too, she is really enjoying that
I think she sent over a Disney picture too.
Regards,
T.

Karolina passed her interview today. I spoke to her for only a few minutes. I'll have more info tomorrow when she returns home from Kiev. We're very happy we've reached this point. Next stop, Odessa on the 24th.

T., glad to see Anya is settling in good

Outstanding and Congrats Joe! Looking forward to hearing more about it!

Eric

It sounds like you gave Anya a great "Welcome to America." Tanya will love getting a photo of you and Anya from Disney. I've worked hard to be sure Tania keeps communication channels open with former friends and acquaintences in Ukraine and make a few new friends here in the U.S. It must be VERY difficult for these women in a completely foreign country that will be their new home. Being severely homesick is rather expected, I think.

Tania has her 1st bank account open, but we have not been able to access the account by phone or the 'Net yet. We have to talk to an actual customer service rep to check the balance. It's taken three visits to open the account so far. If we must visit again to get on-line access, it will be 4 visits!

The bank officer opening the account did not need to see the SSN card. We used it for one of two required proof of addresses since the card was attached to a sheet with our address. The other was signed lease beginning the 15th.

I could not believe the assistant manager of the branch said the SSN was not real because she was not a citizen. He said the number was only for work, as the card said.

Rob & Tania

Thanks Eric. You're next man!

That Assistant Manager sounds like a Moron. I'm certain we'll run into plenty of them. The ones I am waiting for most are the ones asking Lena "Oh are you a Mail Order Bride?" Lena is a fluent English speaker and I am certain will handle that fine...maybe with a torrent of Russian or Ukrainian profanity mixed in as well.

Gee... I didn't know that simply being a fluent English speaker was sufficient enough to eliminate the MOB moniker... Thanks E, that is good info.....

It wasn't only the assistant mangler at the branch! We called the cuss service, they said the same. We had to go into a full service location to show more docs since Tania does not have a driver's license or state ID. This is where the bank officer said Tania's SSN was not acceptable. Either it's bank/company policy, or she was reading the assistant mangler's notes and repeating them to us.

Unbelievable, man.

Rob and Tania

It's amazing how the MOB view remains. To me, I met Tania through online personals. Same as Yahoo Personals, match.com, so on. My brother met his wife on Yahoo. The only difference as I see it, is Tania's simply from Europe.

Rob and Tania

Wise Guy.

Went today to get a SS, it was really a NON Event.
I already pulled the application from the web, filled it out completely. Also took with me printouts of the Web just in case they gave me grief about her having a SS, I would point out to the Immigration docs from the SS web page etc.. but I was never given any grief at all.
We took all her documentation, just in case.
When we were called to the window, I handed the lady the application, along with the Passport and her Original Birth Certificate. (because thats what the web page stated they needed, so why wait for them to ask?)
I was listening to other folks(before we were called up) and I overheard the lady telling one man that the SS office does there own translations, so they want the original one Birth Certificate so thats what I pulled out, left the translated one in our folder.
So basically I gave all this to her, she said thank you and typed away for about 4 minutes, said she would be right back, (went to make a photo copy of Birth Certificate) and came back gave us Anya a paper to sign and date. That was it, she told us in 7 to 10 days she will get SS card.
She never asked us a question.

However I did make sure Anya's "Alien Number" was available. It just happened to be handwritten just above her US Visa, I think the Embassy either did it or the customs agent. I stated this because another couple I know had an issue because they could not give them the Alien number at the time.
All said and done, now we wait.

Its great to be prepared!
T

SS# will be my next step with Karolina. I'm following behind ya T

Hey a question regarding the SSN. Is it better to wait until after Marriage to apply? This way would avoid the name change situation later. Any thoughts? Wisconsin doesn't require a SSN for the Marriage license.